Beam warper



T. E. WATSON BEAM WARPER July 18, 1950 Original Filed April 30, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. E- WATSON July' 18, 1950 BEAM WARPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 50, 1943 Patented July 18, 1950 BEAM WARPER Thomas E. Watson, Tewksbury, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cooker Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of North Carolina Original application April 30, 1943, Serial No. 485,235. Divided and this application February 7, 1947, Serial No. 727,067

6 Claims. (01. 28-32) This invention relates to beam warpers, employed to wind a large number of ends of yarn simultaneously on to a single beam, for further processing of the yarns, in preparation for their use as warp yarns in looms which weave them into cloth. It comprise a division of my application Serial No. 485,235, filed on April 30, 1943, now Patent No. 2,415,857.

In winding yarns onto the wooden barrel of a conventional warp beam, particularly when acetate, viscose, and other nylon yarns are being wound, flat places, i. e., elevations, hollows, or other departures from a truly circular concentric periphery, develop in the surface of the wound mass of yarn after the beam becomes one-half to two-thirds full. In the common type of beam warper, the driving of the beam during the winding is effected by letting its cylindrical surface rest by gravity directly against a felt-covered cylinder which is power driven and rotates the beam by surface contact with the mass of yarn being Wound on the beam, the beam being supported in radius arms so that it can rise as the diameter of the wound mass increases. At the high speeds of warping employed in modern practice, normally running around 400 to 500 yards per minute, the beam resting upon the driving cylinder jumps and loses contact therewith momentarily just after passing the low or high spot at the flat place, and the wound mass of yarn is pounded by the cylinder when the two surfaces again come together after the jump, and is sometimes scuffed because the cylinder has increased its speed while out of contact, both actions tending to cause fracture of the relatively delicate acetate and other artificial yarns. This blow by the cylinder also pounds the turns of yarns together, wedging them together and impeding the free unwinding; toward the end of the winding of a full beam the pounding often becomes very violent, interfering with the proper functioning of the warper and speeding up wear and tear on the machine. Additionally, in this type of beam drive when the brake which is necessarily located on the driving cylinder or its shaft is applied to stop the winding whenever an end breaks, the beam and cylinder do not slow down at the same rate, and there is a sliding or skidding action between the two unequally traveling surfaces which puts a shine on the yarns which is highly objectionable on delustered yarns such as acetate and viscose.

To overcome these drawbacks warpers have been built in which the driving of the beam is efiected through the spindIe-onWhich-the warp beam is mounted in the machine. This type of drive in existing structures requires expensive fixtures applied to both heads of the beam, which take time to set up in changing beams. Also, these machines employ compressor rolls bearing against the surface of the wound mass with considerable pressure to lay the warps evenly onto the wound mass and to crowd the selvage yarns laterally into close relation to the beam heads, so that these latter warps will be wound on the same radius and at the same rate as the intermediate warps, to unwind correctly. However, many of the same faults are inherent in the compressor rollas in the driving cylinder. Hence, this drive leaves considerable room for improvement.

Still another attempt has been made to overcome the faults of the cylinder drive machine, and also of the spindle drive machine, through driving the beam by means of small rubbersurfaced rollers having narrow treads frictionally engaging the peripheries of the flanged beam heads. In this machine, there is no provision whatever, like the compressor roll, to control the laying-on of the yarns, nor is there any means for braking the beam to stop its rotation for piecing-up a broken end.

The present invention aims to overcome these and other drawbacks of prior beam warpers and to .provide an improved machine of this type for the beaming of yarns of all sorts and particularly of rayon yarns.

To these ends, I have devised the machine of my U. S. Patent No. 2,415,857 (of which the present application is a division), in which the beam warper drives the beam through engagement of the peripheries of the beam heads with the outward surfaces of driven belts each carried one. pair of pulleys, forcing the beam heads against the belt surfaces to cause one run of each belt to conform to and contact a prolonged arc of the periphery of each head and to enter into prolonged and tight frictional engagement with such driving belt. Preferably these driving belts are made of rubber composition or at least their surfaces against the beam rimsare of this or similar material having a high coefficient of friction, so that their grip on the rims is adequate for quick acceleration of the beam and also, more important, for checking the rotation of the beam instopping the latter with the utmost prompt- .ness when an end breaks.

To keep the rate of travel and thus the tension of the warps uniform as the diameter of the wound mass on the beam increases, the driving belts are driven through a variable speed drive controlled by the diameter of the wound mass, so that the speed of rotation of the beam is reduced in direct accord with the growth of the wound mass and regardless of the length of yarn wound. Thus the size of the yarn and the number of revolutions of the beam required to fill the beam have no effect on the speed at which the yarns are wound onto the beam. For this purpose, a feeler engaging the surface of the wound mass and displaced in accordance with the increase in diameter thereof is operatively connected to reduce the speed of the variable speed drive as the circumference of the wound mass increases.

In accordance with thejpresentfinvention,to effect an even and accurate "distribution of the warps throughout the length of the warp beam,

rendering unnecessary the pressure of the customary driving cylinder, or of the compressor ro he aplo d or thispm'pose intn s in ledriy maehi es, t expans o comb s posit oneda eiose as practicable to the barrel of the beam'and to -the wound mass accumulating thereon. .Iio provide for beamsof diiferenthead diameters, the. comb is preferably mounted for adjustment toward and from the axis of the beam, so that it can be brought just as close thereto as the diameter,of;- the bearn heads-will permit. By thus shortening theradius of :gyration of the free extent of the warps from the comb .to their point of tangeney on the wound mass, they are guided each into proper position in the length of the beam without troublesome Overlapping onto the, previous, wound turns'of .adjacentwarps; :and with correct location of the turns of selvage warps clear up to the inward. surfaces of .the beam heads, thus; producing abeam having ,a level profile produced without applying any. outside compressing force thereto which could pound or scuff or fracture theyarns, and one which unwinds smoothly without, tangling. and without break-age of ends asa result of, the compressor roll to; en age the, woundwmass, all vibration resulting from the pounding of such roll is eliminated; with consequent reduced wear and tear on; the *warper and better performance of the machine. Qther aims of ,the inventiom'and the-manner in which they are attained, are ,made plain herena ter. 1

illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawingsin which:

l is a iagrammatic end elevation ofta beam warper embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial front elevationof the warper of Fig. 1, omittingthe beam-handling and holding devices shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on line;3-3 of Fig. 1. I

As set forth in'my above Patent No. 2,415,857, the improved warper comprises end frames rigidly spaced apart, on one of which a stud shaft 3; is fixed. by one of its ends, while the other end is held in the depending end-portion of a bracket 5, Fig. 2, of inverted L-shape fixed to the inside of the end frame. On this; shaft rotates freely a, pulley I having multiple V-grooves in its; face and driven by V-belts, 9 from power take-off pulley ll of a variablespeed drive unit=l3 of standard or, any preferred type; driven by electric motor l5. Pulley 1 drives .a gear l1; free on shaft 3 by means of ayclutch l9. operated through arm 2!, link 2-3 and; lever 25 through the usual foot-ttreadle 21' extending across the. front ti he-machine -(F a cha n-belt Z9 mits the drive from gear I! to a gear 3! fixed on shaft 33 extending across the machine and rotating in bearings in the frames.

Pulleys 35 are fixed on shaft 33 the length of a warp-beam apart, each having a wide V-face 31 in which travels a, V.-belt. 39 which passes around a similar pulley 4| fixed in correspondingly spaced relation on a shaft 43 rotatably mounted in bearing boxes 45 slidably mounted in ways 41 in the frames I. The two beltsv39 drive the pulleys 4| and shaft t3. Engagement of one run of each belt 39. with the rim of each head of the beam provides the means; for. driving and braking the beam during the winding.

The warp beam 5.!) having wide heads 54 is mounted as usual on'a simple shaft or spindle 49 which rotates with the beam. A cylindrical bearing'52 in the form of a sleeve fitted closely but freelyaupon the ends of the shaft is slipped over each protruding end of the shaft. The beam is t e roll a on I th w n po ition; n; front Q e chi a w th the rim t ea h. eam head 5. .4- oppp i o e bel s-1 9- Beam.- hand in a ms 5 f :u ua co u t an mi ra o as in-Fig.. 1 are then engaged with the two-protrudn nds o t eshaft al nss f the slee eea ings-bymeans of their hooked extremities,; and then by clockwise angul r rotation .of' crank arm 51 by the us ;--manua lypera d worm-an e f. eihe h wn th m fiahsesnare rolled up over the; lower pulleys 4i .intosapproximately the ,full-line-p sition of Fig. 1, resting against the belts 39.

T Shpp the eam: ts-runnin nq ition t firm-drill ng an -b akin on act-oi the rims hf t anges: with he. ou ward rin n -surface of V-belts 39, the sleeve bean-nest 5 each. 13ee ved t nacap .5'8, Fi .1. pivotedatleu; upon a m m r: 6 fi d tQ-a ate 6.4:; in-ra he ed and erla p n en a emen r with a, .secqhd plate .65 inte ral withv the upper en o a: rack: 5. d ne in Ways 58- oh; he inside of ach. frame I of; the

- A am s hew' sa sl t inmate .64

,7 hep r si np onerad' heme swu -h 11 l-r eiv the h a ih ,52,:each cap 8.1 .fiXe ah siz riqnhywa pin-lap roted ata theqther d hssba fiand shoul'r ar d: to fo m a reduced th eadedvextremity rea sl t in t e a e e dof ca 5.8. which 7 y umb J ll-15. 514. Pin-=15} hahssdown waymiashaftae and b r the: Writ/then. cap, :58 ifs .SAVHZIELIZDLEIldii-OVGI'"110110550:- Y de :for -th 'donhingand doling ofithefbeam. Each rack; 65 Fig-i 1,1 "is actuatedsbyr: a :pinion it Qn'a'a- -Sl1aft -'I5B rotating. in :bearings 1 fixed: on the machine frame iandsrrotateduthrough"bevel ear -'82: from a;shaftf-fi8agoperatedi by' hand-isles outside, the: frame; I. ratchet-8a. fixed Gil-Shaft 8,4 is engaged hy'a pawltafitepiyotedion theframe- Thus, by manipulatingghandler 86: the. rims of thetwo beam heads: 5. 1 are each pressedzan'd held in firm frictional .adriving and brakingengagemen-t: with one run ofzeach belt :39. This. runof each belt supports theqthrustot thetbeami flanges against) at: the: two; :pointsavheresuch: run is tangent to. thentwoapulleysrti and ti, and -by means oft-a screw Wehavingthreads: of opposite handszat; its two ends. respectively connected to the bearingssof shafts; 33zland' 433 the spacing .of these two shafts issadivsted. to. .causetthe intermediate stretdh rof=;belt, intthis IllIlttO; hug:.clos'ely the periphery of its beam head throughoutithe are. wher the beama head zentersapartwayabetween the; two. p llleys; This gives a. driving .and brakin c ntact we maimqlonged: areaef thetrim t p sition. Af e of. each beam :head, instead of merely two linecontacts at the tangent point to each pulley 35,

4|. With the rubber-surfaced belts 39 ample frictional grip is thus attained on the beam at the point of maximum radius thereon to accelerate it and also to check its rotation with the greatest promptness. The half-box formed by bearing cap 58 is sufiicientlto maintain each bearin 52 in non-rotative running position.

The full beam is doffed by taking the load on the hooked ends of beam handling arms lifting pawl 90 to let off the strain on rack 66, releasing and swinging back cap 58, letting pin 70 drop down out of the way, and then rotating crank 56 reversely to lower the beam to the floor where it can be rolled away.

The arrangement of the rack 65 which provides for shifting the axis of the beam toward and'from the pulleys 35, 4I makes it possible to wind beams having a wide range of head diameters, the machine frames being recessed at points nearest the sleeve bearings 52 to permit the latter to take positions required by smaller beam heads.

The mechanism for reducing the angular velocity of the beam 50 to keep the linear speed of the surface of the wound mass and hence of the warps 94 uniform as the diameter of the wound mass on the beam increases comprises a feeler roll 96 of light shell construction weighing around one pound, rotatably mounted on a shaft held parallel to the beam axis in the free end of a bent lever 98 supported on a pivot I00 in connection with the right-hand frame I, a short arm of such lever above the pivot being connected by a chain I02 with the control lever I04 of the variable speed drive I3. Feeler roll 95 is held against the beam barrel or the surface of the windings thereon by a contracting spring I06, so that as the diameter of the wound mass increases the control lever I04 will be swung counterclockwise in Fig. 1 to reduce the speed of the drive and the angular velocity of the beam so that the linear speed of the yarns drawn on to the changing circumference of the wound mass will remain constant. Control chain I02 is guided around sheaves I08, H0, H2, and beneath a sheave Ill made adjustable vertically to lengthen or shorten the effective length of chain I02 so as respectively to increase or reduce the linear speed desired for the particular character of yarns being wound. In any of the settings of roll N4 the angular rotation of the beam is reduced at a rate maintaining the linear speed of the yarns constant.

To arrest the beam promptly upon breakage of an end, or whenever desired by the operator, a brake drum H6 is fixed on the left hand end of shaft 33 carrying the upper V-pulleys 35. Inside the brake drum are expanding brake shoes (not shown) operated in usual manner by heavy springs and connections to both the treadle levers 25 and the customary automatic warp stop motion (not shown). As usual, depression of treadle 21 or actuation of the warp stop motion simultaneously disengages clutch I9 and applies the brake H6. The extended arc of contact between belts 39 and the rims of beam heads 54, operating at the maximum possible radius on the beam gives driving and braking control of the latter without resort to contact with the warps in any way whatever, permitting extremely rapid acceleration of the beam and making it possible to stop the beam from full speed in less than one revolution of the latter, thus bringing it to rest more promptly than possible through contact with the surface of the wound mass as heretofore, and of course without the skidding action,

which previously put a shine on the yarns.

In accordance with the present invention, the provision for distributing the warps evenly throughout the length of the beam comprises an expanding comb I20 of usual type comprising pins guiding the individual ends of yarn onto the beam in spaced relation to each other, mounted in links I2I pivotally connected at their extremities, with the links arranged in zigzag relation and adjustable to greater or less angular inclination to each other by means of a screw I22. the invention mounted upon a pair of angle irons I24 the ends of which are fixed to lugs I28 projecting obliquely downward from the downwardly inclined surface I29 of slides I30 sliding vertically on ways I32 formed on an open framework I34 fixed to each end frame I of the machine, and having in its guideways for one end 'of the usual lease-comb I36. The opening in frame I35 permits the angle irons I25 to extend to the outer limits of the widthwise extent of the machine, thus enabling maximum extension of the expanding comb in section beaming. Slides I30 are adjusted vertically by means of a chain I38 attached to a lug on the top of each slide and passing over a pulley I40 on the framework I34. The chain thence descends Vertically and has its end attached to a drum I44 fixed on a shaft I46 mounted in bearings in the framework I34. This shaft is rotated by a handle I48, the shaft being held against rotation after adjustment by a pawl I49 and ratchet I5I similar to 88, used. on shaft 84.

By this means, comb I20 is adjusted into as close proximity to the barrel 5I of beam 50 as the particular diameter of beam heads thereon will permit, being lowered close to the rims of the beam heads 54 so as to engage and guide the yarns immediately before they enter between the beam heads 54. As the beam fills, the length of each yarn from its guiding point in comb I26 to its point of tangency on the wound mass becomes ever shorter, and the guiding of each end into its proper position ever more accurate. A rod I50 supported in connection with the comb I20 leads the warps through the teeth of the comb.

It is to be noted that comb I20 engages and guides the warps after they have passed around the usual roll I52 about which the warps change direction from horizontal to vertical travel. It has been the practice heretofore to run the yarns over this roll after passing through the expansion comb, with the result that grooving of the cloth cover of this roll throws the ends together into groups thereon, so that the yarns through lack of any means for separating them again reach the surface of the wound mass in groups forming ridges around the wound mass and causing overlapping of the turns onto the adjacent ends, which means tangling and breaking when unwinding. Location of the comb I2t to form the ultimate guiding means, engaging the yarns subsequent to the roll I52, and in closest possible proximity to the winding surface, overcomes this drawback and makes unnecessary the function of the former driving cylinder or the compressor roll in ironing out the ridges and attempting to get a smooth profile on the wound mass.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the same is not to be limited to the exact details shown but is capable of variation and modi- This usual structure is in accordance with.

fication within-the spirit of" the inventionandscope of the appended cl'aima I claim:

1; In a' beam warper, in combination, awarp. beam, -meansfor rotating such beam, and a comb guiding the individual ends of yarn onto the beam andadjustable as -a unit toward andfr'om the beam-into operatively-fixed position.

2. Ina beam-warpei3 incombination, a-war-p beam, means for rotating such beam, a -comb guiding the individual ends of-yarn' onto the beam,

and means-- supporting the combin different fixed positions-at varying distances from the axis of the beam;

towardand from the axis ofthe-beam;

4." Ina beam warper, incombination; a headed- Warpbeam, means for rotating such'beam; an 7 expansion comb, supporting means for the comb;-

guides for the supporting means providing for movement of the-latter-thereon and thus of the comb toward and from the rims of the beam heads, and meansefiecting movement of the sup-- porting means-on such guides and also fixingthe operative'position of the supporting 1 means and thecomb with respect'to the beam heads 5. Ina-beam-warper, in combination; a headedwarp beam; means for-rotating such beam, anexpansion comb, supporting means for the-combincluding slides, guideways for such-slides; and

2m asse manually "operable means to 'efieetmovement: oft: the slides on -th'e guide'way's' and thus to adjustthe comb toward and-from the axis of the beam and fi'x the operating position of the. combwith respect to the beam heads. 1

6." In. a-beam warper, in combination, awarp beam having-heads of greater diameter than that otzits--'barrel, means-"for rotating such beam-, an expansion comb; supporting means for the latten 10 including slides, guide'ways for such slides," chains efieeting movementof the slides along the guideways to adjust the working position of theeomb toward-and from the beam'heads'; and manually operable means to work thechains.-

THOM S-E; WATS'OMY REFERENCESRCITED' Thefoliowing references are of recordifi the" file ofthis"---patnt:

Number- Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 France Mar. 3; "1930 

